An Awesome Surprise!

http://sweetramblesspaciousreveries.blogspot.com/

Left this comment for me on Saturday: --

"Just wanted to let you know that we (AOL's Lemondrop) featured your blog in this week's "Life Spy" -- "Awesome Grandmas who Blog."

http://www.lemondrop.com/2008/10/24/awesome-grandmas-who-blog/

Keep on writing!

October 25, 2008 2:41 PM "
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Isn't that an awesome surprise? Thank you everyone over at AOL's Lemondrop for featuring my blog in their Awesome-Grandmas-who-Blog. I am very honored for being featured, and two other blogging friends are featured as well: Mary and Winifred. Congratulations friends! And I know of a whole bunch of other awesome grandma's who blog, right here on blogger!

We've had a wonderful time together this week. To prove it, here is a picture. Hope you enjoy it.

Mckenzie and Nana 4-wheeling in the field! Wheeee!

See you all soon!

Blessings from the woods!

Reflections, Weekend Wishes

Sometimes, when you take a picture, you are surprised at the result once you upload it to your computer. Well at least I was, when I snapped this one.

It happens every fall. The walking sticks that live in the oak trees come down. Suddenly they're everywhere-on the deck, on the house, on the car. See the one here on the antenna of one of the cars? I thought he looked interesting, clinging to the antenna like that. So I snapped his picture. And when I uploaded it, I noticed the reflections in the windows of the car of the house, the tree putting on color, the woods...kind of pretty, and pretty interesting, I thought.

It has been a beautiful week here, and the weekend promises to be just as beautiful with lots of sunshine and low 80s. I will be out and about enjoying it.

I hope your weekend is beautiful as well.

Blessings from the woods.

More Unexpected Gifts

My friend Eileen's niece Pat, who lives in Broad Channel, New York, surprised me by sending me this beautiful little gift the other day. It is a keepsake of Saint Francis, with some animals and the baby Jesus. Eileen had told her how much I love animals, and had sent her a book with one of my animal stories in it. Pat said she was so touched by my story, that she just had to send me this lovely ceramic piece. Along with it, was a copy of these special prayers:


Prayer for my Pets--

In Your infinite wisdom, Lord God,
When You created the Universe,
You blessed us with all living creatures.
We especially thank You for giving us our pets
Who are our friends and who bring us so much joy in life.
Their presence very often helps us get through trying times.
Kindly bless my pets. May my pets continue
giving me joy and remind me of Your power.

May we realize that as our pets
trust us to take care of them, so
we should trust You to take care of us,
and in taking care of them, we share Your love
for all Your creatures.

Enlighten our minds to preserve all
endangered species so that we may continue to
appreciate all Your creations. Amen.


PRAYER TO ST. FRANCIS
FOR OUR PETS--

Good St. Francis, you loved all of God's creatures.
To you they were your brothers and sisters.
Help us to follow your example
of treating every living thing with kindness.
St. Francis, Patron Saint of animals,
watch over my pets
and keep my companions safe and healthy.
Amen


I was truly touched by your beautiful, surprise gift, Pat. Thank you!

PS. Eileen said it was hard to keep this surprise a secret, but she did it!

Meanwhile, my friend Jan, gave me an unexpected gift as well. This adorable country girl with her animals. Isn't she cute? I love her. Thank you, Jan.

Surprises are a wonderful way to end the week.

Have a blessed day!

Nice Surprises In My Email!

It was a beautiful day today, and I was out enjoying it with friends. When I got home it was early afternoon, and first I rushed to do my outdoor chores. Finally, I was able to come in, turn on my PC and check my email. And there it was. An email from a Sister Joanne, who informed me she served as archivist for the Sisters of the Humility of Mary. Wow, really?

Sister Joanne wrote that she had read my story in the September issue of Catholic Digest.

When I wrote the story, I had purposely left out the name of the city and school I was writing about. I did, however, name the order of the sisters who taught at that school-The Sisters of the Humility of Mary. And in the story I wrote about one of the good sisters at that school who changed the life of a young refugee girl; a mousy, haunted, shy girl, classified as a "displaced person," who longed to be like her carefree, American counterparts. And with the good sisters help, she graduated as the confident, young American girl she longed to be, in 1955. Of course, that young D.P. girl was me.

Sister Joanne correctly guessed the city and school I was writing about, and wanted to verify everything, including the good sisters name, so she could add it all to the archives. What a very nice surprise.

A couple of months ago, I had a nice email surprise as well. That one was from an old soldier named, Emmett, who lives in Texas. He had read a story of mine about coming to America on the U.S.S. General M. B. Stewart in September of 1951. And it seems that Emmett and I were shipmates. Well, not at the same time, but shipmates, nevertheless.

He told me he was on the U.S.S. General M.B. Stewart in 1945, as a young soldier on his way to the South Pacific. He said he imagined I looked more forward to my journey on that ship 6 years later, then he had. Of course, he was right. I was on my way to a new life in a new country, he was on his way to danger! But he made it back alive, and married his childhood sweetheart in 1951, the year I came to America with my family, with hope in all our hearts. Emmett and I continue to correspond as he tells me his war stories, and I tell him mine. A fair exchange with an old soldier; a shipmate of sorts.

Freelance writing may not bring great riches, but it has its rewards!

A Sad Sunday Surprise

A somewhat sad Sunday, as Father Mike announced that he would be leaving us in a couple of weeks, and a new Shepherd of the Flock would be taking over our spiritual care. It was a surprise to everyone! I hate to see him leave; I've grown accustomed to his caring, gentle ways. I'll never forget when he made the announcement last November right in church that "our famous writer Renie Burghardt is having a surprise birthday party downstairs, please stop in to wish her happy birthday." I almost fell over in the pew, when I heard him, and everyone turned to look and smile at me. However, my daughter was peeved at Father Mike for giving away the surprise before they got me downstairs on some ploy, so they could all yell "surprise!" My friend Jan then made the remark that Father Mike should be spanked for spoiling the surprise. And Garnet burst out laughing, while Eileen looked at Jan with a disapproving frown. Jan is bad! Actually, he didn't really spoil it, for it was a nice surprise to have him announce it to the entire congregation. However, today's surprise was sad. I will miss Father Mike!